Lumber compressing and aligning tool



Aug. 9, 1960 A. w. GoULD 2,948,507

LUMBER coMPREssING AND ALIGNING Tool. 4

Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 44 F. gm l0 lg. l 56 /4 /O /6 32 5034 d. 20 ,6 L f= i O 48 42 53 j ,24 3a 22 l v Albert W. Gould INVENTOR.l

Aug. 9, 1960 A. w. GOULD v 2,948,507

LUMBER COMPRESSING AND ALIGNING TOOL Filed Aug. 27,` 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet2 I Y A/b r w. G /d m er IN'NTOR.

Aug. 9, 1960 A. w. GouLD 2,948,507

LUMBER coMPREssING AND ALIGNING TooL Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-SheetI5 F1554 6,0 7g-6 V154 Albert n. Gould BY Mlm United States 2,948,501 vLUMBER `coMPREssING AND ALIGNING TooL i Albert W. Gould, 16 W. KaleyAve., Orlando, Fla.

f FuedjAug. 27, 195s, ser; No. 7,577,589

claims. (cl. z5415) fThis inventioncomprises a novel and useful lumbercompressing and aligning tool and more specifically re-V lates to anapparatus specifically designed to facilitate the aligning of boards inclose side-'by-side relation for the laying of oors and the like, andespecially for the compressing of tongue and groove boards into aclosely fitting side-byside relation. y y

The primary purpose of .this invention is to provide a Y' tool whichwill facilitate the laying of flooring and the like in a close Yfittingside-by-side relation. s ,I

A further object of the invention -is to pro-vide a tool such as Aforuse in ooring, wall siding andV the like. ,s

Yet another object of the invention isto Aprovide an apparatus inaccord-ance with the preceding objects which will enable crooked yboardstobe sucfrsessrfullyy employed s, in such constructions jby effecting astraightening `of the boards in their assembly relation in preparationfor nail-' ingorotherwise securing the boards xedly inthe de#si-red'relation.

A sau further import-ant abject or the inl/@nen is toj provide atool` inaccordance'with the foregoing' object whichwill be easy to use, andattain agood mechanical advantage in the compressing of boards. Y

Yet another purpose is to provide a tool of the jfloor and vin confinedquarters for pressing a crooked floor board into a straight, tightfitting engagement with the ooring previously laid, and which willretain the board `in its ment of the tool forming the subject of thisinvention and illustratin-g the operation of the same in laying Hoorin`gand the like; v 'l 'Figure 2 is a bottom plan view ofthe tool itself;

IFigure 3 is a view in side elevation of the tool and showing the mannerof applying the sameI to a frame construction in preparation forcompressing and aligning boards; y

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the tool ofFigure 1;

` form ja. Vtight partition or flooring.

specifically adapted for the compressing of tongue and; groove |boardsintoA an interlocked close fittingprelation Y jack type capable of:operating at a mechanical advantage i ice.

Figuren` is a view similar to, Figure 1 but showing aV modifiedconstruction of the tool in operation; and

Figure7-'is'adetail view of a portion of the tool of Figure 6.

' l In the assembling of boards in side-by-side relation -togform flatsurfaces, such as the laying of oors or subflooring,v sidings orsubsidings and the like, it is frequently necessary to exertconsiderable force in order to compress the boards into a closeside-by-side relation with eachother throughout their length and thusThis problem is particularly acute when it is desired for economicalreasonsV to employ boards which are crooked or are notstraightthr'oughout their length and which it is desired to force into aclose fitting side-by-side relation with the adjacent board. Y f

The tool in accordance with the present invention provides a means,which would be easily applied, especially in confined quarters sfuch'aswhen working in corners or` the like, and will exert a considerablemechanical advantage or leverage in order Ato effect the desiredcompr'essive action upon thel boards to be placed and com pacted intoplace. Y n In order to illustrate the principles of this invention thereare disclosed two embodiments of tool, that of Figures :lv-5 employing aratchet construction which enable an applied pressure to be maintainedindefinitely' thus freeing the operator for other activity; and a non--4ratchetiform shown in Figures 6 and 7 whichis ofl av less complexandexpensive construction.

VReferring first to the embodiment of Figures 1&5, 'it will-be seenvthat`there--is shownpin Figure la pair of rafters or studsl' to which is to`be secured a flooring" or partition-consisting of a series of boards asat 12. 'ln i order'to' eifect a satisfactory partition or flooring, it'is'.v ,desired that the edges of the boards be lforced into ja iv tightsideeby-side relation without'cracks therebetween,

ad to be enabled to form such al flooring or siding even l be crookedVor 'warped as shown though the lzqoarrdsI may in Figure 1. y

' In accordance with'this invention, the apparatus de'sig# natedgenerally bythe numeral 14 is detachably secured'l to the studsy orrafters 10Las`by removable dowel pegs or pinsY 16, see'also Figure 3.-The tool is disposed close?,v ly' adjacent the last'board laid which isto -be forced into .a ti'ght side-'by-side'engagement with thepreviously applied, compressed and nailed or otherwise secured boards.l

The tool includes a flat elongated metallic plate or strip 20constituting a baseV plate and which has weldedA or otherwise rigidlyVsecured to the opposite ends thereof a pair of projecting ears or lugs22 andh24. The

anchoring pins 16extend through aligned apertures in the ears and endsof the base plate 20A and of the lugs 22 and 24 as will be apparent fromFigures 1 and 3'.

Secured to the underside of one'of the earssuch as r the ear 22 vas by apivot pin 25 there is a lever or arri-i,

26'which'is thus movable towards and from the edge'of the base plate 20and. lies in the same plane with the' latter. The outer ledge of thisarm indicated bythe nuj-* meral 28 is straight and constitutes4 apressure surface'j adapted to: engage the edge of vthe board 12whichfi's'irto be forced into close juxtaposition to the adjacent boardsalready laid.

2,948,507 l a a Removably and rigidiy secured to the top of the baseplateW 20 adjacent the.. lug` 22,. is a4 bracket 3.01, provided withmounting bolts 32. Welded to the top surface of the bracket is a supportarm 34. The end of this support arm is provided with an enlarged head orhousing 36 in which is received any conventional form of a ratchetmechanism indicated generally by the numeral 38 such as that disclosedin the patent to R. G. Knudsen, 2,544,- 795, tiled July 13, 1945 andwhich controls thedirection of rotation of a pivot pin 4t? which isxedly secured to a lever arm 42. The arrangement is such that the leverarm 42 may be oscillated in either direction about its pivotalconnection with. thesupport-arm 34 depending upon the adjustment of the;ratchet mechanismf.

At its opposite ends, the` lever arm 42.is provided with sockets orsleeves. 44 rigidly securedl thereto into which maybe selectivelyinserteda rodi46V comprising a handle for the lever.

Journaled upon the underside of the lever arm 42 is a wedge in the 'formof aneccentricwheel or roller 48, see also Figure 5', whichy is mountedupon the pivot pin Si). This eccentric wheel lies between and in thesame plane as that' of the base '202 andthe pressure arm or lever 26.

Conveniently, a plate 52 may be secured tof the underside of the baseplate to support the eccentric wheel and to guide it in its engagementwith the base plate and with the pressure arm as set forth hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to the diagrammatic view of Figure 5 it willbe seen that the edge 5,3 of. the hase. plate. Zii'has at an`appropriate place thereon a relatively inclinedV camming surface 54.The adjacent edge 56 of the pressure. llever 26 adjacent its end whichis remote from tthe pivot 25 is provided likewise with a curved oroamsurface 58. The arrangement is such that as the lever `arm 42. isoscillated about its .ratchet pivot, the eccentric wheel 48 is caused totravel val'ongthe edge of the ibaseplatc, and likewise againsttheadjacent edge 56 of the. pressure arm 26. As the wheel encounters thecam surfaces 54 and S8, it initiates an accelerated movement ofv theVlever 2,6. During the travel of the eccentric wheel, the lever arm 26is caused to oscillate `about its pivot 25, thereby compelling thepressure edge 28 thereof to press against the adjacent board 12and thusforceV the same against the pre ously i-aid and secured olor boa-rds.T-he ratchet mechanism provides a means which will enable the: pressureonce applied to this plate to be retained, thus holding the board incompressed position and permitting the-operator to nail or secure theboard to the.

members at his leisure.

It will be observed that lthis apparatus is very compact,

as Well as'rflat in construction, and thus may be used in places Vwherethere is very little head roo-m or clearance,

as below low roofs of attics, in corners and thev like.

Figures 6 and 7 Vdisclose asomewhat simpler modication of the apparatusin which the ratchet mechanism .has been omitted. In this iigure likenumerals have beenV given to similar parts. yIn this form of theapparatus there is likewise provided a base plate as at60, having earsor lugs 62 secured to and projecting beyond the opposite ends of thesame. Also dowels or the like 64 are provided whereby the ears and the'base are secured in adjusted position upon the members 10 injuxtaposition toy the boards 12 to be laid and compressed thereon. Upo-none of the ears 62 there is pivoted as at 66 one extremity of -apressure 'arm 68. By means of a fulcrum d press against the edge of aboard 12 'and force the same into the desired position. A pressure block30 ofV any desired character may be applied to the edge of the board totake the thrust lof the outer edge of the pressure lever 6%.

In this embodiment, the adjacent edges of the base plate 60 and thepressure lever 68 `are knurled at 67 and 69 respectively and are olfrelatively harder material than the surface of the wheel 76.Consequently, during operation the knurled `edges will grip or Ibiteinto the softer surface of the wheel, `thereby locking the latter, andthe pressure lever in anaadjusted, pressure applying position. When`accumulated Wear of the knurled surfaces on the wheel 76 render thelatter unfit for further operation, the wheel .may be readily replaced.

The knurled edges andthe, relatively softer -wheel thus serve the samefunctions as the ratchet mechanism in the preceding embodiment.

In this form of the invention,y la mechanical advantage is thus attainedfor forcing a board into position. This form of the apparatusalthough-lacking the ratchet means for retaining a pressure once appliedas in the preceding embodiment, does. enable theuser to operate incramped quarters, and attain a mechanical advantage for forcing a boardinto compacted position with 'the boards previously laid.

In both formsV of the. invention the parallel, laterally spaced`opposite endportions of the edges 53 and 67 are connected by the cam4su-irface'i. This greatly increases. the amplitude of travel of thepressure arms 26 and 68 underthe travel 'of the pressure Wheels` 48 and76.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative. only of the principles ofthe invention. modifications and. changes will readily occurVV to thoseskilled in the. art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction 'andVv operation shown and described, and accordinglyal1 suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, `fallingWithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed asnew is as follows: l

1. A licor tightening clamp comprising a at metal strap comprising abase, means detachably securing said base to a floor structure forcompressing lumber in side-Y by-side abutting engagement thereon, apressure arm pivotally` connected to Vsaid base for swinging movement'ytowards and ifrom the latter, an actuating lever mounted for swingingmovement relative to said base, a pressure l jacent edges and saidpressure roller lie in the same plane. l

or pivot pin 7u one extremity of a handle 72 is secured Y Wedge pivotedupon said lever and engaging and movable upon adjacent edges orf saidbase and pressure arm for causing thereby swinging movement of thelatter relative to said base, said pressure wedge comprising a rollerec. centrically pivoted upon rsaid lever enabling said roller to remainin engagement with the adjacent edges of said base and said pressurelarm throughout the swinging movement of said actuating lever.

2. The combination of claim l, wherein said ad- 3. The combination ofclaim l, including cam surfaces on said adjacent edges.

4. The combination of claim l, wherein the pivot of said pressure arm islocated to one side of said base.

5. The combination of claim l, including a ratchet assembly connected tothe pivotal connection of said actuating lever to said base.

6. The combination of claim l, including a plate secured to said baseandunderlying and supporting said pressure roller and retaining thelatter in the plane of adjacent edges.

7. The combination of claim l, wherein said actuating sure arm, saidpressure roller engaging each of saidl knurled surfaces.

Further, since numerous` its periphery of relatively softer materialthan that of said base and pressure arm.

10. A floor tightening clamp comprising a flat metal strap comprising abase, means detachably securing said base to fa floor structure forcompressing lumber in sideby-side labutting engagement thereon, apressure arm pivotally connected to said base for swinging movementtowards and away from the latter, an actuating lever mounted forswinging movement relative to said base, 10 2,866,623

Wedge means pivoted upon said lever and engaging and movable uponadjacent edges of said base and pressure arm -for causing therebyswinging movement of the latter relative to said base.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS GrigsbyOct. 9', 1951 Holmboe Dee. 30, 1958

